Last night at the London Stadium was not for the faint-hearted - it was a rollercoaster ride! Bayer 04 Leverkusen showed once again why you should never write them off, even when things aren't going well. Despite an early shock from Michail Antonio's header in the 13th minute, the Werkself kept a firm grip on the game, or at least a firm enough grip not to fall overboard.
Leverkusen had already secured a solid 2-0 lead in the first leg, meaning that even a 1-1 draw away from home was enough to book their ticket to the Europa League semi-finals. But they never make it easy. The first goal for West Ham briefly brought worry lines to the foreheads of the Leverkusen fans. Will the Hammers turn the game around? Will this be the start of a bitter evening? Not with Bayer 04!
The first half seemed to mirror many scenarios of the season: Leverkusen were initially intimidated by the Hammers' pressure and momentum, but as is so often the case, the team showed character. With every passing minute in the second half, they grew in confidence and the substitutions of Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong proved to be spot on. Frimpong, the nimble winger, brought a breath of fresh air and a dose of unpredictability to the pitch.
It was a nerve-wracking back-and-forth with no goals until the 89th minute - when Frimpong made his grand entrance. He finally found the net with a long-range shot that was deflected by an opponent. The 1:1! A goal that not only silenced the West Ham fans, but also sent the Leverkusen fans into ecstatic jubilation.
The result? Another glorious entry in Bayer 04 Leverkusen's history books: 44 games unbeaten in a row, a new record in Europe's top five leagues. And while the Werkself continue their march through Europe, we can sit back and say: "That was typical Bayer again - never boring, always dramatic."
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